How to be happy in an unhappy place?

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I feel like it’s a struggle to be happy, and I have to fight for it.
A month and a half ago, I returned from seeing my Long Distance Girlfriend in Australia. There I felt incredibly happy, and inspired to start some hobbies and practice things I want to be talented in. I also had the support from my girl and her family to be who I am.
But since coming back, I’ve felt so stifled at home, and that there’s no room for me to grow. It feels my family doesn’t want to help either.
I have a part time job, earning minimum wage, and all that has to go towards paying off my school’s tuition. I can’t even work in the profession I studied for because I don’t have money for my license or insurance. I can’t afford superficial things to help me cope with being home, and I definitely can’t afford to save up to move to Australia, where I feel my absolute home is. I’m miserable if I do the responsible thing, and to be happy, I have to avoid responsibility.

Where do I go from here and How can I both be responsible and happy at the same time?

Tags: asked November 15, 2013

2 Answers

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Maybe making a safe space for you would help. Making your bedroom into a calm and comfy place for you to relax and do whatever you need and can to make yourself feel good. I always used to pile all the pillows I could find into a corner of my room and make tea and listen to music and write, and I'd kind of escape the stressors in my life for a little bit. Expression may also help, maybe through writing or music or drawing.
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First of all, I'm really sorry. I'm in a long-distance relationship as well, and I know how hard it is to feel as happy as you feel when you've been with your person. So, I'm sending my hugs to you!
For years I had the same type of hard times as you, it seems, as I felt I couldn't really be truly happy without being with my sig. other. For this component, what I did most to make my mood improve was to find friends who I genuinely enjoyed spending time with. I know this sounds cliche, but finding people who I could be myself around really helped.
Also! Setting goals was really helpful for me too, especially dealing with tuition (yuck!) and a busy work schedule. For example, I could say, "This month, I'm going to work ___ hours and put ___ into savings; I'm also going to ____ in a class." So I could feel accomplish, and not feel like in a total standstill place, you know?
I wish you the best of luck!